Operations by security forces and peace talks cannot go together: Maoists

In an open letter purportedly written by a State leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Left wing extremist outfit has said that operations against them by the security forces and peace talks cannot continue together.

This is in an apparent response to Ms. Banerjee's contention that peace talks and violence cannot go hand-in-hand and that the law enforcing agencies will clamp down severely on those responsible for killings in the Jangalmahal area in the southwest of the State where the Maoists have a presence.

In the letter that was also made available to a section of the local media, Akash, a Maoist leader, has pointed out that his outfit is serious about peace talks on the condition that the joint security operations against the Maoists in the Jangalmahal area are withdrawn.

Ms. Banerjee had held a meeting here on Thursday with interlocutors appointed by her government to explore the possibility of opening up dialogue with the Maoists in a bid to restore peace in the Jangalmahal area.

They were asked to go ahead with their moves despite the renewed violence in the region which has witnessed two killings by Maoists within less than a week recently.

But, in the face of a resurgence in Maoist activity, the State Government has urged the Centre not to withdraw a battalion of Central forces from the Jangalmahal area as was earlier proposed. This could indicate that a fresh offensive by the security forces in the area is being considered.

The Maoist leadership has pointed out that their cadres were being surrounded by security forces at a time when they were going in for talks with the government-appointed interlocutors.

Meanwhile, leaders of Left parties in the State have been critical of the inept handling of the Maoist threat by the State Government.